Early life and pre-war service

Otto Wilhelm Kron was born in Speyer, Rheinpfalz on the 28 February 1911. He was the son of a Police Official. He studied Law at the University of Würzburg and was one of the early members of the Allgemeine-SS joining on the 1 October 1931 (SS number 31.441), he later joined the NSDAP on the 1 May 1933 (Party number 3.061.726).

From 1933-1936 Otto Kron served as an enlisted person, and guard with SS-Totenkopfstandarte 1. "Oberbayern" stationed at Dachau. Otto Kron quickly rose through the ranks of the SS and by 1935 he had been selected to become an officer, and he was sent to SS-Junkerschule 'Bad Tolz'.

He was promoted to Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant) and was sent back to the SS-Totenkopfverbände in Oberbayern at Dachau in 1936 through 1938, where he served as an officer at the camps for several years.

On the 13 March 1938 he was involved in the Anschluss of Austria and in October 1938 the occupation of the Sudetenland.

After the Polish Campaign Otto Kron was one of the cadre member of the SS Totenkopf Division when it was formed in October 1939, being given command of the 4th Company, Totenkopf, he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class in June 1940 for the Battle of France.

War service and death

Otto Kron was also involved in the invasion of the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa) being awarded the Iron Cross 1st class in December 1941 and the Eastern Front Medal awarded to all who suffered through the first Russian winter of the war in 1941/42 and awarded the Knight's Cross in August 1942, while in command of the 3rd SS Flak Battalion.

In April 1943 he took over command of the 3rd SS Reconnaissance Battalion, SS Totenkopf . During the Battle of Kharkov, Kron was severely wounded and served the rest of the war in Germany with a shortened stiff leg.

Otto Kron would survive the war, but due to his pre-war service with SS-Totenkopfstandarten 1. 'Oberbayern', he was involved in several war crimes trials held at Dachau during the 1950's. According to official records, Otto Kron died of an incurable ilness on his Larynx. However, in "Soldiers of the Waffen SS"---Many Nations One Motto by Marc Rikmenspoel, the author talks of Kron's death being very mysterious, coming up abruptly, during his trials. Ironically enough, Otto Kron would die at Dachau, on 9. Aug. 1951.

DISCLAIMER: 2. Kompanie is a non-political organization We do not support naziism, or fascism. We are not associated with nor do we condone the actions of the Third Reich or the actual 3.SS Division.

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